To Love Mercy
By Frank S. Joseph
Mid-Atlantic Highlands Publishing (2006)
Reviewed by Cyndy Zoch for Reader Views (4/06)
“To Love Mercy” is an amazing story of race and religion set in late ’40s
Chicago. Mr. Joseph weaves a memorable tale of two young boys and
what happens when their paths cross one fateful evening.
Sass, an 11 year old black boy, and Steve, a ten-year-old white boy, live
only a few city blocks from each other. Their two lives are worlds apart
until circumstances bring them together late one evening in a parking lot
after a White Sox game. The confrontation that results causes one to be
injured and the other to feel a sense of responsibility for the injuries. The
boys spend an adventure-filled day together. Meanwhile, back at home
their two families, brought together by a black woman who happens to
know both boys, fight because of their prejudices and misconceptions.
The boys begin their day naively unaware of the differences between
themselves, but are challenged and ridiculed every where they go for
being “friends”. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long before the boys are
affected by the words being spoken around them. They struggle with
their need to fit in with society and their genuine feelings for each other.
Each family professes strong religious beliefs; one family is Pentecostal
and the other Jewish. Each claims “To Love Mercy”, but when presented
with a situation to demonstrate that belief, each fails miserably. Ironically,
it is the attitude of their families that bring the two boys back together
again.
Mr. Joseph’s novel is a joy to read. The book is written primarily from
the viewpoint of one of the two boys. Their conversations are quite
believable and extremely entertaining. The boys, not knowing how to be
“politically correct”, speak their minds freely, questioning events and
circumstances, yet neither one takes offense at the other. When Steve
sees Sass’ home for the first time, he exclaims “Jeez. It’s so small.” Sass
responds, “What you mean small? We got a bedroom ain’t we?”
The side story of the black maid, a friend to both of the boys, and her
son provides a sobering insight into what life was like in the south during
the early twentieth century for black people.
You need not have grown up in the ’40s to enjoy this book. This realistic
story contains a riveting storyline, excellent dialog and enough excitement
to keep you turning the pages. That Mr. Joseph stayed true to history is
evident from the wonderful quotes he includes at the end of the book.
These quotes were obtained from excerpts of historical tapes and
transcripts, and real interviews conducted by the author with people who
actually lived in the Bronzeville area of Chicago during the 1940s and
1950s.
Buy this book and encourage your friends to buy it too. It makes an
excellent selection for any book club or discussion group. I guarantee that
you will find plenty to talk about!
ipod is a renowned brand of portable digital media player
designed and marketed by Apple Computer. The ipod is currently
the world’s best-selling digital audio player. The ipod family
devices provide a simple user interface designed around a
central scroll wheel, with the exception of the ipod shuffle.
The majority of ipod models store media on a built-in hard
drive, while the smaller ipod shuffle and ipod nano use flash
memory. An ipod, like most digital audio players, can serve as
an external data storage device when connected to a computer.
The discontinued versions of the ipod include two generations of
the popular ipod mini and four generations of the full-sized
ipod, all of which had monochrome screens except for the
fourth-generation ipod with color screen, which was previously
sold as ipod photo before it replaced the monochrome ipod in the
top line. As of December 2005, the lineup consists of the
fifth-generation ipod that can play videos, the ipod nano that
has a color screen, and the ipod shuffle; all three iterations
were released in 2005.
The bundled software used for uploading music, photos, and
videos to the ipod is called iTunes. iTunes is a music jukebox
application that stores a comprehensive library of the music on
a user’s computer, as well as being able to play and rip it from
a CD. The most recent incarnations of ipod and iTunes have video
playing and organization features. Other forms of data can be
added to ipod as if it were a normal data storage device.
ipod or ipods is the most frequently searched keyword online.
There are numerous websites offering tons of valuable
information on video ipod, ipod accessories, used ipods and
cheap ipod. Some sites offer ipod blog, ipod reviews, ipod news
and ipod articles.
These ipod blogs, reviews, articles, news and other information
are very helpful to the potential ipod customers. The guys
planning to buy ipod products are advised to go through these
online sources and read ipod reviews before buying any ipod
product.
Finding a cheap home improvement loan can be a challenge at times, but the extra work involved can pay off by saving you money in the long run.
Taking the time to get extra quotes, do a bit more research, and finding the best people to work on your home improvements is always a good idea… and if it results in a cheap home improvement loan, all the better!
How home improvement loans work
The first step to finding a cheap home improvement loan is to know exactly how it is that home improvement loans work.
The key to this kind of loan is a thing called “equity”… basically, it’s the portion of your house or property that’s already paid for (in other words, how much of the home loan you’ve paid off), and is an indication of how much money you have invested in your house.
The more equity you have, the more a bank or other lender will be willing to loan to you… and the more they’d be willing to loan to you, the more likely you are to be able to get a cheap home improvement loan.
Equity versus need
One of the quickest ways to drive interest rates down and secure a cheap home improvement loan is to have a lot more equity available than the amount that you’re asking for.
When you take out a loan of this type, the equity in your house or real estate serves as collateral for the loan… and when the value of your collateral is a lot higher than the amount that you want to borrow there’s a good chance that the lender will offer you a lower interest rate as a result. After all, there’s a much lower risk of you defaulting on the loan if you have a lot more to lose than the amount of the loan.
This lowered risk is one of the best things that can happen if you’re looking for a cheap home improvement loan; after all, lowered interest rates mean less money that you have to pay in the long run.
Shop around
Don’t accept the first offer that you get for a cheap home improvement loan, however.
Take the time to shop around and get at least 2 or 3 offers, if not more… then compare the interest rates and loan terms of each offer to decide which one is the best deal.
A cheap home improvement loan can take time to find, but they do exist; it’s just a matter of knowing where to look, and knowing when to keep looking. After all, it’s your money and your equity… you shouldn’t spend any more of it than you have to.
You may freely reprint this article provided the following author’s biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:
About The Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
Avoid selfishness. It causes problems everywhere, and the e-biz
world is no exception. To succeed, you must know your audience,
care about them, and go the extra mile to meet them where
they’re at.
Maybe you’re brainstorming a new website: “My website is about
me, my services, and my products.”
Maybe you don’t go around saying that explicitly, but it still
might your subconscious attitude. Most of us can identify with
the joke, “I’m not much, but I’m all I think about.”
Yes, you should think about your services and products - their
benefits and limits. Think about yourself - your own limits as
an entrepreneur. And if you want people to buy, think about
these things in terms of your prospects.
Who are they? What are they expecting? What are they
searching for? How do they perceive your products, your niche,
your approach? How might you be confusing or disappointing
them?
Our pervasive selfishness, also known as bias, is hard to
escape- a big blind spot to see around. The best way to get
around it is to survey your prospects, and, if you can, watch
their behavior around whatever you sell or do or make.
For example, I’ve been planning to write an ebook about public
speaking for six months now, but haven’t gotten to it yet. I
knew it was further down my priority list, so I put an offer on
my most popular public speaking webpages: “Answer this survey
and I’ll send you a free copy of this $25 ebook when it comes
out!” - I’ve got about 50 responses already. When it comes time
to plan the book’s contents, I’ll already know what’s most
interesting to my target market.
Likewise, I did a survey when it was time to title my first
alternative medicine book- I brainstormed about 100 of them,
chose my 10 favorites, and let my online health readers choose
their favorite. The one they preferred was the winner by far. It
wasn’t even close. It also was NOT the one I liked. See?
Maybe you’re writing copy: “I’m going to describe my offerings
in the language most natural to me.”
Sometimes that works. If they’re looking to grab them with a
particular flavor, you might use, for example, folksy language
or tech-speak. But that doesn’t always work. What if they don’t
know your jargon? What if they don’t know your favorite words
and concepts?
We get so comfortable with the words, phrases, and metaphors
from our business and social circles, we forget not everyone
knows them. You can keep your jargon if you define it.
Otherwise, translate it into everyday language. Even better,
find out what the most popular keyword equivalents are, and use
those.
Trust me as an experienced writer and public speaker. Too many
times, I’ve been surprised to reap confusion where I swear I had
sown clarity. I no longer underestimate how much my audience
will misunderstand my meaning. The burden of clarity is upon me,
not them.
Maybe you’re building a website: “I’m organizing my website
around my ideas about my business.”
That may work out just fine, but if when doesn’t, visitors get
confused, don’t find what they’re looking for, and leave without
regret. On a website that’s new to them, there are only so many
times they’ll click before they’re gone.
What you think about your offerings doesn’t matter if you don’t
know what your prospects need, what they care about, and what
their problems are…
How do your offerings meet their needs and solve their
problems? What words are in their minds when they come looking
for solutions? What referral search terms are showing up in
your web statistic logs? Are you using those terms in your
navigation?
Your prospect may have the problem you solve but not be looking
for your kind of solution, or they may not call the solution or
the problem by the same names you do. Jargon again. Find out
what they call it and how they think about it. Find out what
they actually search for, and call it that on your website.
Make a bridge between your prospects’ minds and your own, and
they’ll stream across in droves.
Hawaii is a dream spot for any family vacation. Beautiful sandy beaches with playful waves that crash against the shore, vibrant, green forests, hidden waterfalls, and fiery lava flows all await tourists daily.
Most activities that tourists can participate in are not only invigorating and fun but they also connect vacationers with nature. Snorkeling, whale watching, surfing, and swimming with the dolphins, are just some of the recreations your family can enjoy.
But how can you find the right Hawaii family vacation package for you?
First you need to determine what your budget is. Secondly, you will want to plan the activities and tours you and your family are most interested in. Afterward, look for a traveling agency that can help you find the vacation package that suits your needs.
Many travel agencies are especially designed for vacationing families and they sometimes offer a 50% on your second hotel accommodation. Also, daily breakfast buffets and special children’s menus are perks you can benefit from if you book a trip to Hawaii through a travel agent.
There are several relaxing activities for adults, ranging from on-site food, beverages, spa, and massages, to sports like golf and tennis. And all with the backdrop of a tropical island!
Here are some of the must-see tourist spots in Hawaii:
1. The USS Arizona Memorial is a favorite for tourists; however, it is also busy and if families opt to check it out, they are advised to do so in the morning hours so as to secure a space on the ferry ride.
2. Dole Pineapple Plantation is another popular attraction. You and your family can take a narrated train ride through the pineapple fields. The plantation is considered one of the world’s largest mazes. This is a very edifying experience, as it shows how crops are traditionally grown on the island.
3. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is Hawaii’s most famous place to snorkel. It is essentially a sunken volcanic crater and a former playground of Hawaiian royalties! The rainbow of reefs and colorful schools of fish and other sea life will amuse your family for hours and hours.
4. For a stroll along the beach, during the day or night, Waikiki is a famous two-mile stretch of land.
5. The Diamond Head Crater is a distinctive natural landmark and is a steep, but short, trail that leads hikers to the crater summit, which has a spectacular 360-degree view of Honolulu and the coast. The US army built the amazing trail in 1906.
6. The Polynesian Cultural Center celebrates the people and culture of the Polynesian islands, which include Hawaii, Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Marquesas Islands. It merges entertainment and education, as visitors are treated to the music, dance, food, clothing, shelter, arts and crafts, and beliefs of the Polynesian people.
7. Shop and dine at the Ala Moana Center. It has over 240 stores, some indoors and other outdoors.
Good luck and enjoy your Hawaiian getaway!
Jeff Linaker has an interest in Travel and Holidays related topics. To access more information on land for sale by owner or on home for sale by owner, please click on the links.
It doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to start a blog and it
is easier than you think. In fact I would say it is easier to
start a blog than it is any other type of website. I will show
you haw to get your feet wet in only a few minutes.
If you are new to blogging and just starting out on the internet
then the easiest way to set up your web presence is to start a
blog. There are sites that allow you to create a blog at no cost
, they will include the webspace to host your blog and the
software to create your blog.
To start of you need to find a site that offers free blog
hosting. This is a list of some of the many services that
are available to you to use for free. The list is sorted by
popularity.
Once you have chosen your free blog host you can start blogging
straight away. Follow the on screen instructions and you will be
prompted to start blogging. As different sites offer different
services I won’t go into details of any particular blog provider
here.
That’s it, you now have your own blog. This is a good
environment for you to learn about blogging without worrying
about the technical aspects. Once you have learned the ropes you
can move on to paid services where you will have more control
over your blog and more options for monetising your blog.
Michael Jackson was born Michael Joseph Jackson on August 29, 1958 (making him 47 as of year 2005) to Joseph and Katherine Jackson in Gary, Indiana. He was the seventh of nine siblings. The Jackson family was raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses and practiced door-to-door evangelization. Despite being known as the cute and talented lead singer in Jackson 5, a band that he formed together with his other siblings, he is now better known for his flamboyant style and negative press.
Jackson 5 was soon discovered and grabbed up by Motown Records in 1969 and the family moved to California where the 5 siblings could continue with their newfound career. Their first four singles, “ABC”, “I want you back”, “the love you save” and “I’ll be there” instantly became hits. During this time, the Jackson 5 recorded 14 albums together while Michael Jackson recorded 4 solo albums. In 1976, they left Motown and called themselves simply as the Jacksons and they went on to produce 6 albums together, toured internationally. Both Jermaine and Michael started out on successful solo careers as with Rebbie, Latoya and Janet.
The 80’s is probably the most successful decade for Michael Jackson for it was at that point in time that he produced hits like “Billie Jean”, “Thriller”, “Beat it”. “Billie Jean” was aired on MTV and it was the first ever music video by a black singer that was ever aired on MTV.
Michael Jackson is also well-known for his signature dance, the moonwalk, which he first performed for the Motown 25th Anniversary show in 1983. Till today, parents are passing on this absolutely unique dance move to their own kids and we seriously don’t know how long the ‘Moonwalk’ is going to be famous for.
In 1984, he was nominated for 12 awards and won a record-breaking 8 awards - 7 for Thriller and 1 for his narrative on E.T. storybook. His record is now equaled by Carlos Santana. In 1987, Michael Jackson released ‘Bad’ and he held his first EVER world tour. ‘Bad’ proves to be another benchmark in the pop music scene because 6 songs from the albums became brilliant successes - ‘Bad’, ‘Dirty Diana’, ‘The man in the mirror’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Leave me alone’ and ‘The way you make me feel’. In fact, all the songs in the ‘Bad’ album were successes, leaving only ‘Liberian Girl’ with moderate reception.
Upon entering the new decade, in 1991, Michael Jackson was awarded a $890 million recording contract by Sony and released ‘Dangerous’. During this time, Michael Jackson also announced the birth of a new foundation, the Heal The World Foundation’. ‘Dangerous’ although much low-key when compared to his other previous albums, produced hits like “Who Is It”, Give In To Me”, “Gone Too Soon”, “Jam”, “Remember the time”, “Black or White”, “In The Closet”, “Heal The World” and “Will You Be There” (theme song for Free Willy, the motion picture).
Michael Jackson went on to marry Elvis Presley’s (the KING) daughter, Lisa Marie Presley for 2 years and it ended in a bitter divorce. Thereafter, Michael Jackson remarried and this time to Debbie Rowe. The couple has a son, Prince Michael and a daughter, Paris Katherine. They divorced in 1999 and Debbie Rowe left the kids to Michael Jackson as a ‘gift’. However, as of 2004, it seems as though Debbie Rowe may have decided to go back on her own words.
Among all the Michael Jackson songs, “Black or White” and “Billie Jean” remains the most aired. Michael Jackson has not had a BIG hit in a long time and later on in his career. And despite the splattering of unfavorable news about his plastic surgeries, pedophilia, the ‘balcony’ incident, and various law suits filed against and by him, the name “Michael Jackson” is a legendary name…in and out of the music scene.
Dean Erickson. Journalist, and web site builder Dean Erickson lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of all-michael-jackson.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
Take a breather. The dog days of summer have come and gone.
Thermometers might disagree, but sports bettors should be notified that the best action of the summer is fast approaching.
Bettors typically grow tired of Major League Baseball’s regular season monotony by the end of July. Then, like a cool sea breeze, the NFL blesses bored bettors with a breath of fresh air.
NFL training camps opened for the season on July 27. Over the following two weeks, teams begin a grueling schedule of curfews, diets, and two-a-days to get in shape for the upcoming season. In the following month, all 32 NFL teams will work toward making the playoffs.
The NFL begins its pre-season this week. This time of year is without question the best kept secret in sportsbook wagering.
Most NFL fans know that very little can be learned from pre-season games. The main purpose for the scrimmage-style contests is for coaches to make starting lineup evaluations. Last year’s starters are only on the field for a few plays, mainly to avoid getting rusty for the pending season. While they see their only bench time of the season, reserve players and rookies get the majority of snaps, hoping that their performance will earn them a roster spot.
For the first (and only) time of the NFL season, line makers have no advantage. They are creating lines blindly, forced to set the spread as if the games are regular-season contests.
The reason they are in this situation is simple. No consideration can be made on their part for how reserve players and rookies play. How can bookies create an accurate line when players they haven’t seen play are taking the snaps?
Example. When the St. Louis Rams play the Kansas City Chiefs on August 23, the spread and over/under will be set assuming that KC’s defense (one of the five WORST in 2003) is lining up for each snap against St. Louis’ high flying passing attack, which ranked third in 2003.
The spread for this contest could favor St. Louis (for this example, we’ll say it does). The Rams’ three-headed offensive monster (quarterback Marc Bulger; receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt) likely will not play past halftime. Also, KC’s one-man offensive machine, running back Priest Holmes, should see more bench than turf. These two events make the game wide open. Your guess about the outcome is as good as the bookies.
The second half should see the field full of unproven players. Who knows where the game will go from there? Will it be a low-scoring contest, or a barnburner? No one can be totally sure. This comes as great news for bettors, and bad news for bookies.
“The NFL pre-season is easily the most unpredictable time for offshore sportsbooks,” said Anthony Wayne, marketing director for EWINNER.com (http://www.ewinner.com). “Very often, the field is full of players who have similar skills. Without big game playmakers on the field, how are line makers supposed to know who the favorite will be?”
Following below are several pre-season contests which could prove to be very beneficial to the sports bettor. Strike while the iron is hot. (All spread statistics courtesy of Gold Sheet):
New York Giants at Carolina Panthers, 8/19, 8pm on FOX: New York finished a dismal 4-12 last year, and failed to cover the spread in their final eight games However, they have reloaded by acquiring quarterback Kurt Warner as a mentor to rookie quarterback Eli Manning, and have a new coach, former Jaguars leader Tom Coughlin. Coughlin is a pre-season safe bet, with a 16-8-1 exhibition record against the spread.
With the exception of their offensive line, Carolina has maintained most of the lineup which won the NFC championship last season. The Panthers have covered the spread in their last five pre-season contests, but four of them were as the underdog. During the 2003 regular season, they went 3-9 when favored.
Bet on: Coughlin and his G-men, especially if Carolina is favored.
Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens, 8/12, 8pm on ESPN: After an off-season of drastic changes, Atlanta has nothing to do but improve after finishing 2003 with the league’s worst defense. New coach Jim Mora, Jr. is going to put some youth in their booth, and with Michael Vick healthy, 2004’s Falcons should play more like 2002’s playoff team. During Vick’s first two seasons, Atlanta was 7-1 during exhibition season; last season, they went 0-4 (Vick broke his leg in Atlanta’s second pre-season game).
Baltimore should be the beast of the AFC North this year, as well as a contender for the Super Bowl from week one. Quarterback Kyle Boller will be a year learned, and their top rushing offense (thanks to marathon HB Jamal Lewis), will be complimented by newly acquired wideout Kevin Johnson. This team should improve on last season’s 10-6 record, as their storied defense remains one of the NFL’s fiercest. Head Coach Brian Billick is 11-4 career in exhibition games against the spread, and is 6-2 as the underdog. Last year, the Ravens only went 1-3.
Bet on: Atlanta if Vick is healthy. Keep an eye on Baltimore, especially if they are the underdog.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles, 8/26, 8pm on ESPN: Pittsburgh has a lot to recover from after last season; mainly injuries. Their offense was only imposing on paper, thanks to injuries on the offensive line and a lack of carries for “The Bus” (Jerome Bettis), who only averaged 3.3 yards per touch. Head coach Bill Cowher has turned into a perennial pre-season choke artist. Last year, his team was 0-4 heading into the regular season, and they have had trouble covering the spread in past seasons as well (0-4 the last two seasons at home versus the spread).
Philadelphia is once again the favorite to go to the Super Bowl in the NFC. They addressed their two most pending needs in the off-season, adding wideout Terrell Owens and defensive end Jevon Kearse. The Eagles also have a tendency to choke. Unfortunately, the pre-season is no different. For his career, coach Andy Reid is 2-7 in exhibitions when favored at home.
Bet on: Philly. These games don’t count. They’re less likely to blow it.
Tennessee Titans at Dallas Cowboys, 8/30, 8pm on ABC: The Titans cut a lot of salary (and talent) in the off-season, but they will still find a way to compete for the playoffs thanks to ironman QB Steve McNair. Tennessee’s 13 draft picks will see a ton of snaps before the season starts, as this team attempts to gel into a solid unit. A virtual lock in exhibitions, the Titans covered all four games last pre-season against the spread, and over the last four schedules are 7-1 in away exhibitions. As an underdog, they are more of a sure bet, a perfect 6-0.
Eddie George, a Titan as late as July, now runs for Dallas. George should carry a large chip on his shoulder after being one of Tennessee’s salary cap casualties. The 2004 Cowboys will also feature wideout Keyshawn Johnson, and rookie QB/retired minor league baseball player Drew Henson. Henson is going to see quite a lot of snaps in exhibitions to get rid of his diamond rust. Dallas was 10-6 last season, which is Bill Parcell’s best first season record as a head coach. However, quality opponents (teams with a winning record) went 4-2 against them last season, 3-1 against the spread.
Bet on: Titans. With their record in the pre-season, and Dallas’ tendency to lose to good teams, this should be a sure win.
For more information on NFL wagering, plus links to preferred online sportsbooks, check out Bet-Online-Sports (http://www.bet-online-sports.com).
Jonathan is a starving, struggling writer who aspires to work in public and media relations when he graduates college. He is a marketing intern with Advanced Telecom Services (http://www.advancedtele.com) and a freelance Web Consultant.
The American Football season just came to an end with my team getting close to the championship but falling short again. I am a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts and we keep having a groundhog day season year after year but it is still fun to watch. We have one of the better quarterbacks in the league named Peyton Manning who is renowned for his hard work ethic as well as his mental and physical ability on the field.
One of the things he is known for is beginning each play with up to three possible plays to run and trying to switch into the best one at the line of scrimmage based on the formation that the defense of the other team is in prior to the ball being snapped. He will check out the other team and then let his team know what the play will be using different code words and hand signals. This is called an audible for you International readers.
When he is done calling the play and the ball is snapped they do their best to execute the play and move the ball forward. When the audible results in a good play everybody loves the quarterback and says how great and smart he is. When the play turns out poorly or if he has a series of poor plays he is the biggest sham in the league and everybody cant understand why he just doesn’t go up and just start the play instead of changing it every time.
Manning’s philosophy regarding making so many play changes is that he doesn’t want to waste a play. If the original play that the coaches called doesn’t look like it will work against the formation the defense is showing he will switch out of it into a higher percentage play. I for one am happy to have that asset on my team as are the coaches. When you watch other teams play without such capability you see a lot of wasted plays.
Well, we as short-term traders have similar tools that we can use to keep us out of wasted trades and they are called divergences. I locate the divergences I use with a MACD indicator but the idea is applicable to most indicators. Many systems have been designed based on divergences alone and they can be quite successful.
The way I use divergences is mostly as a warning system. Divergences tell me two things about possible market conditions. First is that the trend I am following could be coming to an end. The second is that the trend I am following may be a very strong trend and possibly worth milking for a large trade.
Every trend will end in a divergence on some time frame the question is what do you do about it. I follow a trend following system usually in my short-term futures trading. Those who follow my system (http://www.wattstrading.com/Scalpingtheeminis.html) know that there are a series of rules that need to be met before a trade is entered. Approximately 70% of the time that those rules are met and a trade is entered it will be a winner. There are times though that a trade is doomed from the beginning just because it is fighting a divergence that is telling us that the trend is coming to an end. It is hard to incorporate divergences into a rule set because by nature they are more subjective and not everyone will see them.
One way to improve the results of any trading system is by becoming aware of divergences and when they come along make a discretionary decision not to take a trade setup.
Lets assume we are using a basic trend following system where we buy or sell short pullbacks to a 21-period simple moving average on a daily chart based on whether the price is above or below the moving average. Follow this link to the chart used in the examples below http://www.wattstrading.com/NDX_Divergence.JPG
We can see in late April the price closed below the 21-sma at which point using the system we might be waiting for a pullback in order to get SHORT the market. If we follow the system blindly we would sell blindly at the end of May when price worked its way back up to the moving average. That trade would quickly turn into a loss as the price advances over the 21-sma. If however we noticed that the MACD formed a positive divergence we would have the choice to not take the SHORT trade and wait for another trade. That particular setup is not the best example since the period where the divergence set up is rather short but the idea still holds.
We next see how the price advance steadily in June before pulling back to the moving average and allowing a LONG trade. At the end of the LONG trade another divergence is formed warning us of a possible trend change. That being the case we have the option to not take the next trade which also would have been a loser. Price declines in July and pulls back to the moving average in August setting up a SHORT trade. It too formed a divergence with MACD at the end of the trade which led to an extended advance through the rest of 2005.
In the beginning phases of that extended advance a negative divergence was formed which did lead to a penetration of the moving average, however brief, but not a trend change. This is the second information that we can learn from divergences. When there is a clear divergence and a trend change does not occur then there is a strong possibility that a strong extended trend is underway.
Us traders of the 1-minute NQ see this all the time when we are in runaway mode. There can be divergences all the way up the advance and the thing to learn from the information is that there is more safety in finding a place to get on the trend rather than picking a top or bottom whatever it may be.
The extended trend in the chart example eventually does end with a divergence in December but only after several more smaller divergences throughout the year. This chart or theoretical system may not provide the best example but I think there is something useful in learning how to recognize divergences that can keep us out of poor trades. Here are a few of my observations regarding divergences. Hopefully they can be of some use to you.
1. MACD Divergences are most reliable when they cross the zero line in between the peak and the failure peak. Such as the two in June and August in the chart.
2. When you take a divergence signal and trade counter trend and end up getting stopped out there is a good chance that a strong trend is underway. Change your thinking of trying t find a top or bottom and see if there is a place to get on board the trend. The worst that can happen is that you will be wrong, but getting onboard a runaway trend early is worth the risk. (provided your system allows for such trading)
3. A MACD divergence on a time frame five times higher than your time frame is hard to overcome and it can feel like a battle trying to trade against it.
4. Allowing a trade to pass because of a divergence and having that trade work out the way it was suppose to anyway is not really a terrible thing. (see number 2). We should not place too much mental weight on any one trade but instead look at the collection as a whole.
Recognizing and applying divergence discretion to your trading system can be a valuable tool and worth the time and effort to learn. Trade well!
Ryan Watts is a full-time technical trader, money manager, and trading coach with over ten years experience in short-term trading. For more information on his services and trading system visit http://www.wattstrading.com. He can also be contacted by email at info@wattstrading.com.
Online dating is now more popular than ever with more and more
singles from all over the world choosing to search for love on
the Internet. Dating online is a fun, effective way to meet new
people, make friends and form new relationships. If you’re new
to the concept, though, the experience can be a bit daunting at
first. This online dating tutorial will help you get the most
out of dating online.
1. Be comfortable with your decision
Like lonely hearts ads and introduction agencies, cyberdating
used to be thought of as a last resort, but that is no longer
the case. Internet dating offers singles freedom from
traditional restrictions such as distance and allows even busy
professionals and single parents the chance to socialise and
find love. Another great advantage of online dating is the fact
that it offers the chance to know more about a person before you
meet them and make a more informed choice about who you would
like to date.
2. Find the site that’s right for you
There are literally thousands of dating sites out there, each
catering for different people and their needs. Take your time
and check out a few sites before committing to spending any
money. Some sites are free to use and many sites offer a free
trial, where you can search for singles in your area without
paying any money up front. If a site isn’t quite what you hoped
for, try another one. There are millions of people on the Net
and plenty of places for them to meet. Keep trying and you will
find the right place for you. 3. Be clear about what you want
Dating (both on and offline) means different things to different
people. Some people are looking for a serious relationship,
while some just want to chat, date or have casual relations.
It’s important to be honest with yourself about what you’re
looking to gain from the online dating experience, even if
you’re just looking to try it out and have some fun. There are
sites that cater for all forms of dating and some that are
geared towards particular requirements. Being honest with
yourself will help you make the right choice and avoid
disappointment. When it’s time to put your profile up on the
site, being honest about your intentions will also help you
attract likeminded people.
4. Put up a good profile
Like all first impressions, your profile or personal page on a
dating site is extremely important. A good profile should be an
accurate representation of who you are. It should also be geared
towards making people want to get to know you. Never put
yourself down, especially when it comes to your looks. There is
a difference between being honest and realistic and letting your
insecurities take over. Self promotion is not an easy task for
most people, but it’s important to remember that there is
nothing wrong with being aware of your finer qualities.
Concentrate on things you like about yourself, your interests,
your dreams and anything else that sounds positive. If you’re
stuck, get your friends and family to tell you what they like
about you and include that information in your description.
5. Upload your picture
Looks aren’t everything, but surveys have shown that most online
daters do prefer to contact people who have pictures on their
profiles. Don’t be afraid to upload a photo: a picture can make
all the difference when someone is deciding whether to contact
you or not. Even if you are unhappy with your looks, chances are
there is someone out there who will find you attractive. Let him
or her decide without adding apologetic comments about your
looks underneath the picture. If at all possible, choose a
picture where you are smiling and looking happy to add to the
positive feel of the profile.
6. Don’t be afraid to contact people
If you joined a site to meet people, don’t be afraid of
contacting others. After all, they are also on the site for much
the same reason. If you like somebody’s profile - get in touch
and let them know; you never know what might happen.
7. Treat people the way you would like to be treated
The novelty of online dating can sometimes make people forget
there are actual human beings on the other side of the computer.
Always be respectful of people’s feelings, even if it turns out
you and the other person are unsuitable for each other.
8. Good timing
The beauty of cyber dating is that you can afford to take your
time before meeting people in person. It’s good to get to know
people online first, but if you feel the right moment has come
to take things further - don’t be afraid of suggesting that. If
you do, though, don’t take it personally if the other person is
not ready yet. Let them take their time.
9. Be safe
When dating (both on and off line) always use common sense.
While the majority of people have honest intentions, it pays to
be careful. Beware of people asking for money straight away, or
those starting your online relationship by detailing a story of
woes and asking for your help. It is advisable to never lend or
give money to people you have only just met online.
When agreeing to meet people you met online, always meet in a
public place and let friends or family know where you are if
possible. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask to bring a friend
with you to your first meeting. Make a point of explaining that
it’s nothing personal and be wary of people who try to pressure
you into meeting them alone. Remember: It’s advisable to get to
know people online and on the phone first before going to meet
them in person.
10. Don’t give up
There are millions of people dating online at any given time and
chances are that if you persist, you will find the person who is
right for you. Don’t take rejection too seriously and keep
trying. If one site is not working out for you, it may be worth
trying another one and seeing if you have better luck there. If
you follow the tips detailed below, you will be in a very good
position to find what you are looking for online.
